Chicago 2009: Ford Taurus SHO gets EcoBoost

Super High Output. That moniker, shortened to the SHO acronym, has always had special meaning to fans of the original groundbreaking Ford Taurus. Now, those three letters take a greener tint as they signify that the latest version of Ford's mainstream family sedan has been granted the Blue Oval's new EcoBoost technology. In Taurus guise, the 3.5-liter, direct-injected, twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 engine makes 365 horsepower and drives all four wheels through a paddle-shifted, six-speed automatic transmission, meaning that this is one new bull that will have plenty of get-up-and-go.

That's the kind of power most expect from a larger displacement V8 engine, but the flip side of EcoBoost technology is that it's supposed to deliver that power along with the kind of rational fuel economy one would expect from a standard V6 powerplant. Future versions of the EcoBoost engine family will likely include flex-fuel capability. We'll have to wait until Ford releases official mileage ratings to see if the EcoBoost technology is as promising as it sounds, but color us intrigued in the meantime.

The Taurus SHO returns as the sporty version of Ford's new flagship introducing a new generation of premium performance and fuel economy with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost™ V-6. This engine delivers V-8 levels of power – with an estimated 365 horsepower – without compromising its V-6 fuel economy.The 2010 Taurus SHO features an enhanced SelectShift® six-speed automatic transmission with control paddles mounted on the steering wheel, in combination with a sophisticated torque sensing all-wheel drive system, a sportier SHO interior, subtle exterior design cues and myriad technologies and features offered on Taurus.

Taurus SHO will be available this summer, starting at $37,995, including destination fees.

The Taurus SHO joins Ford's growing lineup of performance vehicles for the 2010 model year, building on the legacy of the original, which earned a spot on the Car and Driver 10Best list four years running.

"The new Taurus SHO delivers on the authentic sleeper sedan formula but adds all-new luxury-appointments, convenience features and technologies to an unsurpassed balance of power and fuel economy," said Mark Fields, Ford's president of The Americas. "This new sport derivative answers enthusiasts' calls for a premium Ford flagship sedan with even more attitude."Introduced in 1989, Taurus SHO was conceived as a discreet performance-oriented sports sedan, ideally suited to the automotive enthusiast needing the room and capability of a four-door full-size car. Produced through 1999, more than 100,000 were sold.

The original Taurus SHO generated a loyal following of owners and enthusiasts, with an active club more than 1,000 members strong, an online forum with more than 10,000 registered users and a Web site (bringbackthesho.com) specifically devoted to convincing Ford to resurrect the SHO. The 2010 Taurus product development team spent significant time listening to SHO enthusiasts.

EcoBoost™ Twin-Turbocharged PowerThe foundation of the new 2010 Taurus SHO is a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V-6 engine. This advanced powerplant generates an estimated 365 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 350 ft.-lbs. of torque at 3,500 rpm, resulting in significantly improved power, torque and fuel economy compared with larger, normally aspirated engines. This also is Ford's most powerful EcoBoost engine.

A key feature of this EcoBoost engine is gasoline direct injection. The direct injection of fuel into the cylinder during the intake stroke, as opposed to port-style injection to an externally mounted intake, produces a well-mixed air-fuel charge. Fuel vaporization during the intake stroke cools the incoming air, improving volumetric efficiency and lowers the likelihood of knock.

The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 also uses twin turbochargers, as opposed to a single unit. The reduced size of each turbocharger results in reduced internal inertia, allowing this advanced engine to avoid the "turbo lag" often prevalent in earlier-generation turbocharged applications. From the driver's seat, the rewarding result is linear power delivery across a broad torque band from 1,500 through 5,500 rpm. Peak torque building quickly off idle ensures responsive acceleration from a standing start.

SelectShift with paddle controls and All-Wheel DriveThe new Taurus SHO driveline combines a high-capacity six-speed 6F55 SelectShift transmission with a sophisticated torque-sensing All-Wheel Drive System. These components work in harmony to deliver ample traction when putting EcoBoost power on the road. The six-speed transmission offers a wide array of gears to enable spirited acceleration, yet comfortable high-speed cruising, through a 2.77 to 1 final drive ratio.

SelectShift provides conventional automatic operation or a manual shift mode that gives the driver complete control over gear selection. For performance-minded drivers, paddle controls allow "match-rev" downshifts and will hold manually selected gears for precise control. Intuitively operated, a squeeze on either paddle will deliver an economical upshift under acceleration, while a gentle push forward brings a smooth downshift, synchronizing the engine and transmission speeds for responsive and positive engagement.

The Taurus SHO driveline is contemporized with the incorporation of a sophisticated All-Wheel Drive System that engages automatically and unobtrusively. The unit contains an advanced array of internal electromechanical clutches to efficiently distribute torque to the wheels with optimum traction. Standard all-wheel drive allows the Taurus SHO to efficiently deliver its high performance to the pavement under a wide variety of conditions.

Taurus SHO takes full advantage of the multi-link SR1 rear suspension design. Named for the 1:1 shock absorber ratio, this configuration provides an inherently stable baseline for the SHO development team to fine tune for enhanced driver control and agility. In addition, the SR1 rear suspension geometry provides increased travel, while enabling the use of 19- and 20-inch wheels and tires.

For the discriminating automotive enthusiast, Taurus SHO offers an available SHO Performance Package consisting of upgraded brake pads, recalibrated EPAS for even more responsiveness, a "Sport Mode" setting for the standard AdvanceTrac® Electronic Stability Control and a shorter 3.16 to 1 final drive ratio for faster acceleration. Summer-compound 20-inch Goodyear Eagle F1 performance tires on premium painted wheels also are included.

"Taurus SHO was always a stealth high-performance car," said Earl Lucas, exterior design manager. "The new SHO builds on the expressive design of the 2010 Taurus, adding subtle cues that set it apart."

The 2010 SHO is available in a wide range of new Taurus colors including Atlantis Green Metallic, a unique SHO color inspired by the iconic Deep Emerald Green hue appearing in 1991.

The new Taurus SHO interior encourages performance driving. Leather-trimmed seats with Miko Suede inserts, made from recycled post-consumer yarns from plastic soft drink bottles, are comfortable and luxurious. A perforated leather-wrapped steering wheel puts the driver in smooth touch with the road. Front seats are 10-way power adjustable. SHO accelerator and brake pedals are trimmed in aluminum. The console, instrument and door panels feature SHO-specific authentic aluminum appliqués. SHO branding appears on the unique floor mats, and on the passenger side of the instrument panel.

Taurus SHO: Performance and ConvenienceThe 2010 Taurus SHO offers an impressive array of standard convenience features as well as optional features and content. Standard Taurus SHO amenities include:

Intelligent Access with Push Button Start, a new Taurus feature allowing drivers to enter the car and start the engine without using a conventional key. Drivers simply carry the fob as they approach the vehicle, touch the SecuriCode™ keyless entry keypad, open the door and enter, apply pressure on brake pedal and push a button to start the engine.

MyKey allows enthusiasts to activate a restricted driving mode, persistent Belt-Minder® safety belt reminder, audio system volume limits, an earlier low-fuel warning, and consistently-engaged AdvanceTrac® stability control. The top vehicle speed can be limited to 80 mph, and speed chimes can be programmed to engage at 45, 55 or 65 mph further protecting their investment.

Easy Fuel™ Capless Fuel Filler System, a unique feature that eliminates the need for a traditional fuel cap. Easy Fuel is a hassle-free solution that provides a consistent self-seal after every refueling.

Ford SYNC® is the fully integrated, in-vehicle voice-activated communications and entertainment system standard on Taurus SHO. The system combines 911 Assist, Vehicle Health Report and GPS-based features including business search and call completion.

SYNC connects to MP3 players, iPods, memory sticks and PDAs. The latest version of SYNC in the Taurus SHO adds Traffic, Directions and Information, providing turn-by-turn route guidance and the capability to access and personalize content.

Ambient Lighting allows the Taurus SHO driver to program interior lighting from a choice of five soothing colors to suit any character or preference.

The 2010 Taurus SHO comes standard with the full array of active and passive safety equipment and features offered across the Taurus range.

Adaptive Cruise Control, which allows the driver to set the Taurus SHO cruising speed while using radar technology to monitor traffic travelling up to 600 feet ahead, automatically adjusting speed to help maintain a preset distance between vehicles. Adaptive Cruise Control comes with Collision Warning with Brake Support providing visible and audible warnings when slower traffic is detected ahead. Brake support is activated if the driver does not respond to provided warnings, and pre-charges the brake system to prepare the vehicle for stopping.

Blind Spot Information System (BLIS™) with Cross Traffic Alert consists of two multiple beam radar modules, one each per rear quarter panel. When an adjacent vehicle enters the defined blind spot zone, and indicator alert provides driver warning in the corresponding sideview mirror.

Cross Traffic Alert uses existing BLIS radar modules to sense oncoming traffic while the Taurus SHO is slowly backed from a parking space. When cross traffic appears within three car widths, the system provides a visible message on the instrument panel in combination with a sideview mirror warning and an audible signal.

Multi-Contour Seats with Active Motion™ can be specified in conjunction with heated and cooled first-row positions in the new Taurus SHO. Multi-Contour functionality provides subtle but continuous massage to help prevent back pain and fatigue and is ideally suited to meet the needs of long-distance drivers.

Voice-Activated Navigation System includes a 10 GB music juke box hard drive and a single CD/DVD player. When combined with the optional rear camera system, rearview projection appears on the centerstack-mounted navigation screen.

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Anonymous

6 Years Ago

I think you're overreacting a bit. This is just the first in a series of engines that Ford is working on. This 3.5 Ecoboost engine will produce as much power as a larger V8, but it will get something like 20% better fuel economy. So maybe this car would've received a 4.7 V8 and gotten 20mpg highway. Now it might get 24 or 25mpg, but it will have similar acceleration and power characteristics as the car with the bigger engine. This translates later into smaller cars with smaller Ecoboost engines that have good acceleration but get more than 40mpg on the highway. Chevy is doing the same thing in the Cruze. It deserves mention on ABG because it is a realistic technology to reduce fuel consumption without sacrificing power.

Anonymous

4 Years Ago

Fortunately for the Blue Oval team, they may have an ace-in-the-hole. As we learned driving the 2010 Ford Taurus through Tennessee and North Carolina's Smoky Mountain roads, this new bull shows promise and takes the marque upscale like never before. But be under no illusions this is a risky move. The Taurus name has never been extended upmarket like this before (let alone in such a waterlogged economy), and it isn't immediately clear who the model's competitors are a detail that could prove problematic when trying to target customers.
http://www.reviewedfords.com/2010-ford-taurus.html

Anonymous

Anonymous

6 Years Ago

@LEN_A
i keep hearing that but i dont beleive it. There are almost no engines that make 100+hp/L that do not require premium. GMs 2.0L is the only one i know of but some sites state premium is required (like fueleconomy.gov). I wont beleive their claim until a see somone fill that car with 87 and put it on a dyno.

@MikeW, if the difference between price is negligible then the difference in mileage is even more so. If you are seeing mileage difference between regular and premium its probably due to ethanol content differences. We are probably looking at a ford that gets 26hwy instead of 23hwy or a 13% difference. Where i live gas is $1.90 reg and $2.20 premium. That is a 15% difference. It rather have a v8. Chances are the v8 costs less to make and often they can weigh less than twin turbo 6s.

I do really like this engine i just think they should have kept the TwinForce name and not tried to green wash a tech designed to make more hp. I do think they have an excellent product here but htey are just putting it in teh wrong platform and unfortunately, the world's first introdiction to EcoBoost is going to leave everyone wondering where the economy savings are. They are going to taint the reputation of this brand before the real ecoboost engines arrive.

Anonymous

6 Years Ago

That is pretty much what i figured. I am curious how they are detecting 87 and modifying the electronics. If they are doing so my standard means then they are listening for predetonation then retarding the timing or reducing the boost. The problem with this approach is that predetonation is damaging. If owners are going to go back and forth between premium and regular, they are going to damage the car. I could do this with my WRX right now but using 87 octane puts the engine in survival mode and it tries to reduce damage by the means mentioned above. Hopefully ford has found a way to improve this detection because i would love a turbo car that can run on regular in low-power high efficiency mode.

what would really be cool would be an engine that can switch between a more efficient natural aspiration and a forced induction mode. The key to this would be changing the compression ratio for non-turbo to make it more efficient. Prob not a good idea afterall.

Anonymous

6 Years Ago

@BoneHeadOtto - they probably will when the auto magazines get a hold of one in a few months. I'm looking forward to it. The one thing I've been told by a couple of engineers I know at Ford is that it won't do 365HP with regular.

Anonymous

6 Years Ago

When Ford debuted the new Taurus at the Detroit Auto Show this week, mention was made of both the standard 3.5L Duratec V6 and the optional availability of Ford's advanced EcoBoost 3.5-liter V-6, with an announcement regarding availability soon. So we expect that Ford will debut the 355-hp EcoBoost V6 in the Taurus at the Chicago show, but that doesn't necessarily mean it will be be wearing any Super High Output badges. Ford seems keen on building the EcoBoost brand name, as EcoBoost will appear alongside the Lincoln MKS, MKT and Ford Flex when those new models are ordered up with the same advanced engine.
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fchris

Anonymous

Anonymous

6 Years Ago

with that kind of power from a turbo v6 we are no doubt looking at an engine that requires premium fuel. Say bye bye to most of those "gas savings". Plus this hog of a car will weigh 4000lbs guaranteed. This is the same backwards thinking as GM where they offer the excellent 2-mode hybrid only in SUVs. the first debut of this tech should be in a small light weight car with a 1.5L ecoboost.

Anonymous

6 Years Ago

The difference between regular and premium is almost negligible, sure 10% more cost, but how much better mileage.
4,000 lbs? more like 4200 minimum
If Ford wanted more engine, why not just use the 3.7 V6?